The GSMA’s 18th Global Mobile Awards deadline is just around the corner—the online entry is open only until November 30th at 17:00 GMT. There are four awards in the Social & Economic Development Category, relevant to those creating products and services for underserved people in emerging markets (although two are not limited to emerging markets):
3a. Best Product, Initiative or Service in Emerging Markets: This category recognises mobile initiatives, programmes, products and services that have had a tangible effect in bridging the digital divide in emerging markets. From programmes, services, projects or initiatives that have ‘connected the unconnected’ by bringing affordable mobile voice and data communications, apps and services to people for the very first time, to products and services that have had a proven effect on the empowerment of people, as well as their social and economic well-being.
More information about Best Product, Initiative or Service in Emerging Markets
3b. mWomen Best Mobile Product or Service for Women in Emerging Markets: The GSMA mWomen Award aims to salute an innovative product or service in the marketplace specifically designed to meet the needs of underserved women in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.
More information about Best Mobile Product or Service for Women in Emerging Markets
3c. Best Use of Mobile in Emergency or Humanitarian Situations: This category is specifically for mobile services, initiatives, applications, solutions or products that have been in place, developed or deployed to provide emergency support to communities hit by natural disasters such as earthquakes, famine, tornadoes, floods etc. or other humanitarian disasters, such as refugee crises, conflict, terrorist attacks or epidemics, in terms of speed and scale of support or through innovation that provides new ways to save and enhance lives.
More information about Best Use of Mobile in Emergency or Humanitarian Situations
3d. The Green Mobile Award: The ‘Green Mobile Award’ category is for mobile industry organisations that are focused on the reduction of environmental impacts through eco-friendly, innovative policies, products, programmes or initiatives, as well as organisations outside of the industry that utilise the mobile platform to communicate, innovate or drive eco-friendly programmes, services and initiatives.
More information about the Green Mobile Award
Last year’s winners for the above awards included Safaricom for Grundfos; Etisalat, Qualcomm, D-Tree International and Great Connection Inc. for Etisalat Mobile Baby; UBL Omni for Transparent and Efficient Cash Disbursement Service after the 2009 IDPs Crisis and the 2010 Flood Crisis; and Flexenclosure for E-site.
The awards will be announced at next year’s Mobile World Congress on Tuesday 26th February 2013, in Barcelona, Spain. Good luck!